EYE ON EUROPE STOCKHOLM NETWORK THE LEADING PAN-EUROPEAN THINK TANK AND MARKET-ORIENTED NETWORK ISSUE NINE
SUMMER 2006
LABOUR’S LEGACY LOST? Within a matter of weeks the annual UK party conference season will once again be upon us. Last year, most eyes were on the Conservatives’ leadership election, as they sought to find an heir to Michael Howard, who could lead them away from years of disarray. This year, questions of succession will again be to the fore, as the Labour party seems set to finally address the matter.The appointment of Chancellor Gordon Brown to inherit Prime Minister Blair’s position seems a formality.The timing of the handover, however, has long been the focus of feverish speculation, all of which could shortly draw to a close. Integral to the decision will be the time remaining for Blair to secure his ‘legacy’.This was the topic for discussion at a recent Stockholm Network/Economist Westminster Fringe debate. ‘Blair’s legacy is one of hopes fulfilled, not opportunities squandered’ assembled a panel of politicians and commentators in an attempt to prophesy what historians’ assessments of the Blair premiership will be. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
IPRS VS ANTI-TRUST Intellectual property (IP) is becoming one of the most influential and controversial issues in today’s knowledge-based society.The rapid and growing interest in IP reflects the political, economic, legal and moral challenges that characterise this field. At the macro level, IP affects a wide range of issues, such as international trade, enforcement, foreign direct investments, technology transfer, innovation climates, and competition rules. At the micro level, intellectual property rights (IPRs) are strongly embedded in contemporary business models. IP is becoming increasingly prominent in the evaluation of intangible assets, the protection and management of knowledge assets, and in the business strategies of knowledge-based industries and companies, both big and small.
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The importance of IP has been recognised by many political leaders, including those in the United Kingdom. At the Enterprise Conference in December 2005, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, announced that he had asked Andrew Gowers, former editor of the Financial Times, to lead an independent review to examine the UK’s intellectual property framework. The consultation was launched with a formal call for evidence in February 2006, when Mr Gowers wrote to “key contacts across a range of industry sectors, including scientific, high-tech, manufacturing, media and creative industries, as well as public sector and third sector bodies, relevant industry associations, inventors’ bodies, consumer groups, experts in corporate finance and venture capital, the legal profession, and leading economists and other academics in the field”, asking them to submit evidence. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3
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DIRECTOR’S REPORT
The think tank calendar tends to run from summer to summer, reflecting the parliamentary year. So July and August present a good time to reflect on what we have done this year and what is in store for the one ahead. Our Westminster Fringe series of debates culminated this season with a far-reaching, ‘big picture’ topic - what would Tony Blair’s legacy be? The speakers addressed a packed house and the debate was also broadcast on UK television, showing just how much interest this subject has inspired. Perhaps it is too soon to be asking the question, as Mr Blair’s recent comments suggest he still plans to battle on for a while longer. But his contribution not just to UK politics but to world events certainly sparked a lively debate. Over in Brussels, meanwhile, the regular Amigo society events we hold for Belgian policymakers and thinkers also attracted a record 70 guests for our final event on striking the right balance between IPRs and competition rules. 2
net neutrality, digital rights management and a user-friendly comparative guide to European health systems. Never ones to rest on our laurels we will also be planning our first event at the UK party conferences this Autumn and some celebratory activities to commemorate our 10th anniversary which falls next year.
Coming up in the autumn, we plan to investigate the following topics at a range of events in London, Brussels, Geneva and elsewhere: nuclear power, the future of UK conservatism, health literacy, globalisation, public-private partnerships, the UK’s innovation environment, and choice in education.
It has been nearly a decade since ‘some bright spark’ came up with the idea of forming a network to link Europe’s foremost marketoriented reformers together and in that time we have achieved a great deal. But, just like Tony Blair, we are not yet ready to consider our legacy, because we still have so much more to do. Helen Disney
We will be launching publications on among other topics, Europe’s emissions trading scheme, prescription medicine counterfeiting, ISSUE NINE
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LABOUR’S LEGACY LOST? CONTINUED
In defence of the motion,Treasury Select Committee chair John McFall highlighted recent economic achievements, with unemployment at an historic low, the relatively painless introduction of the minimum wage, and, in contrast to Thatcherite conservative rule, the development of a society that is both ‘caring’, and at the same time, ‘efficient’. Polly Toynbee of The Guardian buttressed these claims, highlighting Bank of England independence and economic stability as achievements of profound significance, but acknowledged that despite much progress, the government could still go further. Nick Herbert MP, Shadow Police Reform Minister, however, told of a government consistently espousing reform, but never delivering it. Even after Blair’s admissions that he “wished he’d gone further” on every reform initiative, ‘reform’ resembled a rhetorical flourish more than a policy. Accompanied by a treasury more intent on being seen to be spending
money on problems than solving them, the overall impact has been one of profligacy – both of political capital and taxation revenues. Anthony Seldon, historian and author of Blair, described the past 9 years as a state of “diarchy”, making identifying accomplishments uniquely attributable to Blair somewhat of an impossibility. Given the unknown outcome of the Iraqi sojourn, Blair will be left with little in the way of legacy apart from his general election-winning record. With no obligation to call an election until 2010, Blair’s successor should have the opportunity to build up a demonstrable track record of governance before having to face the electorate, and to allow the voters to forgive or forget some of Blair’s less popular decisions. In that time, a great deal can happen in politics. The most obvious factor will be whether the rejuvenated Tories and their (by then not-sonew) leader David Cameron have managed to sustain their media and public adulation. Current polling numbers may represent the
While the Gowers Review process has been criticised, especially by academics and other IP experts, for being too short, too superficial and not transparent enough, the review team has received a huge number of submissions, including one from the Stockholm Network.
Another issue of high importance addressed by our submission to the Gowers Review team is the tension between intellectual property rights on the one hand and anti-trust rules on the other. While anti-trust mechanisms may well be appropriate for combating anti-competitive and monopolistic practices in general, the use of these tools in the case of proprietary knowledge-based products is more nuanced. SUMMER 2006
However, unless Labour contrives to make itself as loathsome to the electorate as the early-90s Conservatives did (something that the scandals of Mandelson, Blunkett and Prescott, war in Iraq, domestic terrorism, eroded civil liberties, and a grotesquely indebted NHS have thus far failed to achieve), talk of Blair’s legacy being to hand his successor defeat still seems premature. Simon Moore
where it believes IPRs are being “abused”. The classic example, Dr Curley explained, is the high-profile case where the European Commission decided Microsoft had violated Art 82 of the EC Treaty by refusing to supply interoperability information to its competitor, Sun Microsystems.
IPRS VS ANTI-TRUST CONTINUED
In our submission to the Gowers Review team, the Stockholm Network IP and Competition Programme focused on key issues such as the Lisbon Agenda and European competitiveness, European patent harmonsation, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), technology transfer and public private partnerships, IP in the pharmaceutical sector and IP issues with regard to computer implemented inventions. Our submission highlighted that it is impossible to address the UK IP environment without looking at IP policies at the European and international level.The main recommendation of the Stockholm Network was therefore for the UK to take a more pro-active role at the European level and lead the other Member States in discussions that today are stalled or non-existent.
end of their extended lean spell, but whether they can be sustained and built upon to the extent necessary for an election win is another matter. In the meantime, the Liberal Democrats’ lengthy period of soul-searching may have yielded some concrete policy suggestions (lower taxes, higher taxes, greener taxes, or some mysterious baffling combination of the three – nobody really seems sure), a process which may begin in earnest with their September conference this year.
In order to discuss these issues more broadly the Stockholm Network and the Ludwig von Mises Institute Europe co-hosted an Amigo Society Debate at the Hotel Amigo, Brussels on the 27th June, where the central theme was: “Intellectual Property Rights vs. Anti-trust: Is there a Sensible Middle Ground?” Chaired by Dr Meir Pugatch, Head of the Stockholm Network Intellectual Property and Competition Programme, the debate featured Dr Duncan Curley from McDermott Will & Emery UK LLP, and Manuel Campolini, from Janson-Baugniet.
Campolini then went on to talk about the tension between IPRs and anti-trust rules in another sector that relies profoundly on its IP; the pharmaceutical sector. As in the information technology sector, the EU competition authorities have also intervened in pharmaceuticals. A prominent example, as illustrated by Campolini, was when the Commission fined AstraZeneca for abusing its dominant position – breaching Art 82 of the EC Treaty. Both the cases mentioned at the seminar, including other cases involving IPRs and antitrust, have been controversial. It is therefore worth mentioning that a review of Article 82 policy is underway.The Stockholm Network will of course continue to report on the developments in this area. Anne K Jensen
Dr Curley addressed the policy tension between IPRs and competition rules in the information technology sector, and argued that in recent years, the European Commission has taken a more interventionist stance in cases 3
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PROFILE: FAES (SPAIN)
FAES, the Foundation for Social Studies and Analysis, is a private not-for-profit think tank with ties to Spain’s centre-right People’s Party, spearheaded by José María Aznar since its creation in 1989.
During the academic year 2005-2006 FAES also organised several Visitors’ Programmes for young Latin American and European politicians.The last two Visitors’ Programmes for Latin American politicians, which took place in November 2005 and May 2006, brought to Madrid 100 young people linked to political parties, political foundations and independent institutes for two weeks.The programme included a range of talks and institutional visits including a trip to the European Parliament in Brussels. Following this successful experience, FAES coordinated the First Programme for Central and Eastern European politicians in November 2005.
WHAT THEY DO At the service of Spain and Spanish society, and also interested in international affairs, FAES seeks to strengthen the Western values of freedom, democracy and humanism. Its objective is to create, promote and spread ideas based on political, intellectual and economic freedom; ideas that are capable of offering political lines of thought.These must be ideas that are able to be adopted by politicians and transformed into public policy programmes.
FORTHCOMING PLANS AND PUBLICATIONS www.fundacionfaes.org
WHAT THEY BELIEVE FAES supports the idea that: individual freedom is a supreme value; that democracy is the only form of government that promotes respect for individual freedom and human rights; that the free market economy has proven its superiority as an efficient means of allocating resources, creating wealth and enhancing collective prosperity; that Europe is a union of different nations that share common values and a desire to promote free economic, intellectual and individual circulation throughout the continent, as a means of safeguarding freedom and peace; that the Atlantic link between Europe and United States is essential to defending freedom, democracy and the Western way of life; and that Latin America forms part of the Western Community, with which it shares essential values.
ISSUES OF INTEREST FAES concentrates on five wide-ranging concerns: economic reform; the ‘War on Terror’; Europe’s part in the Western community; the ‘opportunity-based society’ (education, healthcare, the environment, and immigration); and the defence of the Spanish nation as the best guarantor of the rights and freedoms of all Spaniards, especially the right of equality before the law. For this purpose, FAES organises discussion forums, seminars, conferences and training courses and produces electronic publications,
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books and a quarterly journal on political thought. It carries out a wide range of activities based on international links with other foundations and think tanks in Europe, the United States and Latin America.
WHAT THEY HAVE DONE In 2006, FAES produced a pair of important reports: a proposal for the reform of NATO entitled NATO: An Alliance for Freedom and a proposal for the creation of an open Atlantic economic area entitled A Case for an Open Atlantic Prosperity Area. Both reports were presented in Washington, Brussels and London. The latter document was presented in London in collaboration with the Stockholm Network. Also during the academic year 2005-2006, FAES organised, in collaboration with the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), a cycle of seminars under the title of Western Values and European Identity.Two seminars have already been held in Berlin and Madrid and another two are scheduled in several European cities for the autumn. Recently FAES organised the 3rd edition of the Campus FAES, a two-week summer course in which experts from around the world explain their ideas and opinions regarding various matters and issues to a select group of participants.
Activities Continuing with the cycle of Western Values and European Identity, FAES and the KAS will organise two further seminars which will be held in Brussels and Berlin in the autumn. The first of these two seminars is scheduled for September 12th in Brussels.The title will be The Borders of Europe. In November, FAES is planning to host the 2nd Edition of the Visitors Programme for Central and Eastern Europe. Like last year, the programme, which will also last for two weeks, will bring 50 young people from several European countries.The programme will take place in Madrid as well as other Spanish cities. Publications FAES is compiling a report on Latin American affairs which will be published in the autumn. This study, which is being drafted in collaboration with institutions and individuals from the whole American continent, will analyse the threats and strengths of the area and, consequently, will propose a strategic agenda for Latin America to anchor the region in the Western World. Besides the usual quarterly journal and various other publications, in the forthcoming months, FAES´ publishing house, Gota a Gota, will launch the Spanish version of four important books: La Republique, les religions, l´espérance by the French Minister of Interior, Nicolas Sarkozy; Affirmative Action by Thomas Sowell; L´Anneé du coq by Guy Sorman; and While Europe Slept by Bruce Bawer.
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PROFILE: FREE (POLAND)
The Forum for the Development of Economic Education (FREE – Forum Rozwoju Edukacji Ekonomicznej) was founded in autumn 2004 by a group of young professionals from Poland, with the help of Germany’s Friedrich Naumann Stiftung.The aim of FREE is primarily to influence economics and public policy decisions in Poland, with the target of building free markets, limited government and a stable and prosperous economy and society in Poland.
centres around a network of young professionals from Poland and abroad – current FREE chapters include Warsaw, Lodz, Krakow, Brussels and London.The reason for having a network with area chapters is to be able to engage and affect as large a group as possible with the think tank’s ideas and events, as well as to draw on the resources of this wide group of people (currently incorporating over 180 members and still growing). Members are engaged professionally across the board of the public and private sectors: finance, consulting, academia, government, business, NGOs, law firms, IT and media. Membership is based on a diligent ‘recruiting’ process – only recommended or very successful individuals sharing our values are accepted into the organisation by its Governing Board.The governing board of FREE is supported by the advisory board, which includes key policymakers and economists who shape daily public opinion in Poland.
WHAT THEY HAVE DONE
www.free.org.pl WHAT THEY DO FREE is a novel free-market think tank in Poland. The mission of FREE is to directly and indirectly liberalise and remodel government policy (law, institutions, taxation, foreign policy and public spending) and essentially shape it in ways that will enhance economic freedom, economic growth and prosperity in Poland. It also aims to improve economic unedrstanding amongst Polish society, as well as policymakers, this being key for the achieving the think tank’s goals. FREE releases a bi-weekly newsletter among its members and key media and policymakers in Poland.The organisation of the think-tank SUMMER 2006
Having appeared numerous times in the print and broadcast media, FREE has been and constantly is successful in political and public debate on policy issues and current affairs. A 2-day Conference near Bialowieza forest allowed FREE’s members, advisory board members, as well as economists and policymakers from other private and public organisations to meet and exchange thoughts. A number of conferences and workshops on the Euro, labour market reform, social security and tax reform, energy security, and the role of media in economic education have taken place in Poland and have been attended by key government officials, MPs, chief economists, academics and NGO officials from Poland, Germany and Slovakia. FREE has also engaged in forming links and cooperating with our Ukrainian counterparts who share the same values as we do. With the aim of supporting a free, democratic Ukraine, FREE has set up the Polish-Ukrainian Network (PUN), aimed at bridging the divide between Poland and our Eastern neighbours.
cartels. We embrace stable and sound economic growth supported by pro-market macro- and micro-economic policymaking, as well as good governance and leadership in facing the current challenges that Poland faces internally and externally.
FORTHCOMING PLANS Most importantly, FREE aims to push its social security and tax reform paper into the highest levels of Polish government and, hopefully, see its recommendations come to pass in the near future. FREE’s other plans include further conferences and meetings with key policy decision-makers and media in order to raise awareness of policy issues and help further the role of free markets in Poland. A media campaign aimed at raising awareness of the lack of knowledge of basic economic principles within society is being planned, concurrently with the promotion of FREE as the organisation best placed to help improve knowledge of economics, and as a conduit for further expansion of the organisation. A larger network base will allow FREE to grow, be more effective and essentially further free markets in Poland.
WHAT THEY BELIEVE The founding group of FREE and its members share a strong belief in free markets and rational policymaking, individualism, the rule of law, transparency and entrepreneurial activity unconstrained by the hand of government or 5
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PROFILE: ISTITUTO BRUNO LEONI (ITALY)
Istituto Bruno Leoni was founded in Turin in 2004 with the aim of becoming a guiding light for classical liberals in Italy. Ideas have consequences: the mission of Istituto Bruno Leoni (IBL), named after the renowned Italian lawyer and philosopher, is thus to encourage public debate from a market-oriented perspective.
importance of property rights for a free society.The keynote speakers will be venture capitalist Peter Thiel (one of the founders of Paypal Inc) and Grover Norquist, President of Americans for Tax Reform.
WHAT THEY DO IBL publishes both scholarly and popular works, organises seminars and meetings, and publishes articles in the daily press, both in Italy and abroad, as well as short studies and briefing papers. Its main purpose is to orient decisionmaking, inform the public and foster a new generation of intellectuals devoted to the cause of liberty. IBL’s main areas of interest are globalisation and competition, welfare and taxation, and environment and energy, but it regularly publishes papers and articles of a more theoretical nature too.The Institute is now setting up two new departments: one will work specifically on themes relating to the private provision of public goods, the other will focus on labour market regulation.
WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IBL is active in organising meetings and events in which the most important issues are debated, from the standpoint of individual liberty and the free market. In the first months of 2006 (January-June), the Institute organised 18 meetings across Italy, predominantly in either Milan or Rome (in 2005, 36).The most prominent panellists included the head of the Italian antitrust authority Antonio Catricalà, the former director for fiscal affairs of IMF Vito Tanzi, Fastweb CEO Stefano Parisi, bankers Rudi Bogni, plus a long list of free market economists — including former OECD Director David Henderson, Heritage’s Marc Miles, and Bocconi’s Guido Tabellini. IBL is very active in the area of policy initiatives: it has recently launched the ‘Stop Excise Tax’ initiative, aimed at reducing excise taxes on fuels, with a campaign centred on the comparison between the pump price of fuel 6
www.brunoleoni.it and its actual cost net of taxes, supported by a dedicated website. Likewise, IBL started its campaign for a greater degree of liberalisation in the Italian economy with a manifesto (“Energy Security Is Competition”), co-sponsored by Istituto Juan de Mariana in Madrid, Liberalni Institut in Prague, Lithuanian Free Market Institute in Vilnius and the Institute for Market Economy in Sofia, Bulgaria. More recently IBL has carried out a survey on the use of the Internet by Italian’s patients’ associations, presented at a dedicated event in Milan. The recent liberalisation of non-prescription drugs in Italy (namely, their being made available in supermarkets and other nontraditional drug retailers) was anticipated by a year of intense campaigning by IBL. Every month, IBL publishes a Briefing Paper on a policy issue – plus various ‘Occasional Papers’ and ‘Focuses’. In 2005, the Institute published 6 books. In 2006 we have so far published 3 books. Each year Istituto Bruno Leoni organises a Mises Seminar in Sestri Levante (not far from Genoa), at which selected young scholars are invited to present a paper which can then be discussed by an established scholar and the audience.This year the seminar will take place on October 6-7.The theme will be the ISSUE NINE
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PROFILE: CAPTUS (SWEDEN)
Captus is an independent Swedish free-market think tank which aims to promote the principles of lower taxes, the rule of law and free markets.They are based in Sweden’s second largest city, Gothenburg, but are also represented by associates and fellows who reside in other Swedish cities, as well as in the US and in the UK. Captus currently has eight staff members and five additional fellows.
Swedish free market think tank) in arranging an essay competition centred on the relevance of Ayn Rand’s book Atlas Shrugged to contemporary Swedish politics.Their goal is to develop a number of regular essay competitions each year and consequently, they are presently seeking partner organisations which are interested in financing these competitions.
FORTHCOMING ACTIVITIES In addition to the Rand contest, Captus has other projects in the pipeline. Captus fellow Atta Tarki is currently preparing a report on the negative effects of Iranian oil subsidies. This publication is due for release at the end of summer 2006. Details of further work will be announced later in the year.
WHAT THEY DO Their goal is to function both as a producer of ideas and as a link between ‘idea-producers’ and ‘idea-consumers’. As a producer of ideas Captus regularly publishes articles in various Swedish and international newspapers. During their first year of existence they have published some 200 articles, reaching out to a wide audience in Sweden but also to international readers of magazines such as Tech Central Station, The American Enterprise, Human Events, and Liberalismo.org. Captus also publishes public policy reports. Several of their staff have an academic background in the fields of economics, political science and biotechnology. They have a broad range of focus – working on issues such as economic policy, patent rights, integration and immigration, climate change, environmental issues and genetically modified foods. One of the main activities of Captus is the publication of Captus Magazine, a weekly online magazine. Each issue of Captus Magazine contains 4-5 articles, essays and editorials. The content of the magazine ranges from day to day issues to philosophical debates. Both conservative and libertarian views are welcome in Captus Magazine, which aims to publish works of not only well known writers, but also young talented writers. Captus Magazine is today the most frequently published right of centre intellectual magazine in Sweden. Captus has a network comprising a number of talented, liberal writers, whom they encourage not only in their magazine but also in essay collections that they publish. Currently, Captus is co-operating with Timbro (the largest SUMMER 2006
reporting from across Sweden and the world, from news media, magazines, and other think tanks. Short summaries and links to material of interest are published, enabling readers to quickly gain insight into interesting material published by a wide range of free-market think tanks and magazines.
www.captus.nu Acting as the link between ‘idea-producers’ and ‘idea-consumers’ Captus regularly arranges seminars in Gothenburg, again in co-operation with Timbro.They believe that this is a good way of communicating the excellent work that Timbro does not only to people in the capital city of Stockholm, but also to people in other parts of the country.The seminars which have been arranged so far have been very successful and have managed to attract a wide audience ranging from students to businessmen, journalists and policymakers. Captus is currently in negotiations with a range of potential partners to expand their seminar programme. Another way in which Captus aims to function as a link between idea-producers and ideaconsumers is through its online presence. Each day, Captus compiles the best of free-market 7
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ABOUT THE NETWORK “We face a broad range of economic challenges over the next decade. Learning from the experiences of market-based reform elsewhere in Europe and the world can help us set the best course for Britain. The Stockholm Network is an invaluable resource in facing that challenge.”
The Stockholm Network is the leading pan-European think tank and marketoriented network. It is a one-stop shop for organisations seeking to work with Europe’s brightest policymakers and thinkers.Today, the Stockholm Network brings together 120 market-oriented think tanks from across Europe, giving us the capacity to deliver local reform messages and locally-tailored global messages across the EU and beyond. Combined, the think tanks in our network publish thousands of op-eds in the high quality European press, produce many hundreds of publications, and hold a wide range of conferences, seminars and meetings.As such, the Stockholm Network and its member organisations influence many millions of Europeans every year.
Policy Issues The Network is a forum for sharing, exchanging and developing pan-European research and best practice. Interested in ideas which stimulate economic growth and help people to help themselves, we promote and raise awareness of policies which create the social and economic conditions for a free society.These include: Reforming European welfare states and creating a more flexible labour market. Updating European pension systems to empower individuals. Ensuring more consumer-driven healthcare, through reform of European health systems and markets. Encouraging an informed debate on intellectual property rights as an incentive to innovate and develop new knowledge in the future, whilst ensuring wide public access to such products in the present. Reforming European energy markets to ensure the most beneficial balance between economic growth and environmental quality. Emphasising the benefits of globalisation, trade and competition and creating an understanding of free market ideas and institutions
What do we do We conduct pan-European research on, and create a wider audience for, market-oriented policy ideas in Europe. Our website contains a comprehensive directory of European free market think tanks and thinkers. We advertise forthcoming events (our own and those of 8
Matthew Hancock, Economic Advisor to Shadow Chancellor George Osborne MP
partner organisations) and facilitate publication exchange and translation between think tanks. We also post regular news flashes and updates on European think tanks and their activities.
When was the Stockholm Network founded? The Stockholm Network was founded in 1997 by Helen Disney, a British journalist and policy specialist.The spread of market-oriented think tanks and independent policy research institutes across Europe from the mid-1990s onwards, created a niche for a network hub, capable of providing a bird’s eye view of the policy environment.The network’s early aims, which have continued to the present day, were to find an efficient method of connecting likeminded policymakers and thinkers; to encourage collaboration on joint research projects in order to share the most successful policy innovations and arguments more widely; and to ensure a wider audience and a more co-ordinated approach to the dissemination of market-oriented ideas within Europe and beyond its borders.
Who funds the Stockholm Network? The Network is funded by a wide range of individuals, corporations and foundations. A mixture of for-profit and not-for-profit organisations, some SN supporters are global enterprises, while others are small or medium in size. Subscriptions from individuals, commercial enterprises, and a range of NGOs including other think tanks make up the bulk of our funding.We also derive a small income from the sale of our publications and research materials to the public, bookshops, government agencies and private companies. Corporate subscribers come from a wide range of sectors that currently include information technology, energy, pharmaceuticals, healthcare, public affairs and venture capitalism. Subscribers do not have a veto over the outcome of Stockholm Network research or any influence over its media output.
Why should I support the Stockholm Network and its work? The Stockholm Network is in the business of creating in Europe an intellectual climate in which human prosperity and your organisation can thrive. We strive to maintain the best knowledge of European market-oriented think tanks, ideas and thinkers, directing you swiftly to the expert or organisation you need. We already have a proven track record in influencing the policy debate and our network and influence is growing all the time.
How could you or your organisation benefit from SN membership? Expand your database by meeting new contacts from across Europe Receive weekly Stockholm Network email updates and quarterly newsletters Receive Stockholm Network Books and Publications Get invitations to Stockholm Network Events and Activities
Would you like to join the Stockholm Network? Please contact us on +44 20 7354 8888 or email info@stockholm-network.org
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MEET THE TEAM
HELEN DISNEY is Director of the Stockholm Network. Her background is in public policy and the media. Formerly an editorial writer for The Times and an editorial writer and commentator for the Daily Express, Helen continues to write regularly on a range of public policy topics for such publications as the Daily Express and Sunday Express, Public Finance, Public Service Magazine, and The Sprout, a satirical Brussels-based magazine, as well as regular weekly entries for the Centre for the New Europe’s health weblog, CNE Health. Helen has been the Director of the Stockholm Network since 1997, and is a founding member of the organisation. DR TIM EVANS is the Stockholm Network’s Director of Development. He works across the spectrum of policy issues to ensure that the Stockholm Network continues to promote its work and develop support across a range of constituencies and interests. A former President and Director General of the Centre for the New Europe (2002-2005), between 1993 and early 2002 Dr Evans was the Executive Director of Public Affairs at the Independent Healthcare Association in London where he oversaw the political affairs and public relations of one of the UK’s independent health and social care sector. He also served as chief economic and political advisor to the Slovak Prime Minister, Dr. Jan Carnogursky, between 1991-92. ANNE KRISTINE JENSEN is the Stockholm Network’s Project Manager for Trade, I.P. and Competition. She joined the Network in October 2004 following a period as an intern. She is responsible for organising events and frequently contributes to and edits Stockholm Network publications.
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SACHA KUMARIA is the Stockholm Network’s Assistant Director and Manager of its Energy and Environment Programme. He is responsible for liaising with member think tanks, co-ordinating research projects and events and contributing to and editing Stockholm Network newsletters and publications. SIMON MOORE joined The Stockholm Network in early 2006 following the completion of a successful internship period. In addition to administrative work and website maintenance, Simon is currently working on Beyond the Borders, a companion piece to The Stockholm Network’s State of the Union publication, focussing this time on market-oriented reform in non-EU member states in Europe.
DR MEIR PUGATCH heads the intellectual property and competition programme at the Stockholm Network and edits its monthly e-newsletter, Know IP. He is based at the School of Public Health, University of Haifa in Israel, where he is a lecturer on intellectual property policy, management and the exploitation of knowledge assets and entrepreneurship. Dr Pugatch is also a guest lecturer at the Department of International Relations, Hebrew University Jerusalem, where he lectures on the international political economy of trade policy.
TERENCE O’DWYER is manager of the Stockholm Network’s Health and Welfare Programme. He is also responsible for coordinating the Amigo Society meetings, liaising with our Spanish and Portuguese think tank members and managing the Stockholm Network website.Terry joined the Stockholm Network in July 2004. KATIE PERRIOR is the Media Director of the Stockholm Network. She joined us in July 2005 to help promote our work in the British, European and International media. She is the co-founder and director of The Research Shop, an independent media agency which specialises in out-sourced, ad-hoc media research. Katie acted as a media consultant to the award winning television programme,‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?’, and has worked for several politicians, notably the Conservative Party Chairman and the Shadow Home Secretary during high profile campaigns. Most recently, she has also worked for ITV and Channel 4 News, and is a local councillor, and Conservative Spokesman for Community Safety, for the London borough of Bexley. 9
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The Stockholm Network is the leading pan-European think tank and market-oriented network. Spanning almost 40 countries and over 120 think tanks, our unique organisation has the capacity to deliver local messages and locally-tailored global messages across the EU and beyond.
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Through our publications, weekly newsletter, and special events, members are able to exchange ideas and make an impact on a wide range of public policy topics and ideas. If you know of a new organisation you think would benefit from Stockholm Network membership, please contact our office at info@stockholm-network.org and let us know.
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www.adamsmith.org/ United Kingdom Adam Smith Society www.adamsmith.it/ Italy Adriatic Institute for Public Policy www.adriaticinstitute.org/ Croatia Albanian Liberal Institute www.liberalb.org Albania Anders Chydenius Foundation www.chydenius.net/eng/index.asp Finland Association for Liberal Thinking www.liberal-dt.org.tr/ Turkey Association for Modern Economy www.ame.org.mk/ Macedonia Avenir Suisse www.avenir-suisse.ch/ Switzerland Bulgarian Society for Individual Liberty www.libertarium.net/ Bulgaria Captus www.captus.nu Sweden Causa Liberal www.causaliberal.net/ Portugal Centre for Economic Development www.ced.bg Bulgaria Centre for Economic Development www.cphr.sk/ Slovakia Centre for Economics and Politics cepin.cz/cze/index.php Czech Republic Centre for Entrepreneurship and Economic Development www.visit-ceed.org Montenegro Centre for European Reform www.cer.org.uk/ United Kingdom Centre for Institutional Analysis and Development www.cadi.ro Romania Centre for Liberal Strategies www.cls-sofia.org/ Bulgaria Centre for Liberal-Democratic Studies www.clds.org.yu/ Serbia Centre for Policy Studies www.cps.org.uk/ United Kingdom Centre for Political Thought www.omp.org.pl/indexang.html Poland Centre for Research into Post-Communist Economies www.crce.org.uk/ United Kingdom Centre for Social and Economic Research www.case.com.pl Poland Centre for the New Europe www.cne.org/index.htm Belgium Centre for the Study of Democracy www.csd.bg/ Bulgaria Centro Einaudi www.centroeinaudi.it/ Italy Centrum im. Adama Smitha www.smith.pl/ Poland CEPOS www.cepos.dk Denmark Cercles Liberaux www.cerclesliberaux.com/ France CIDAS www.cidas.it/ Italy Civic Institute www.obcinst.cz/ Czech Republic Civita www.civita.no/civ.php?mod=content&id=6 Norway Civitas www.civitas.org.uk United Kingdom
SUMMER 2006
34 Conservative Institute of M. R. Stefanik 35 36 37 38
39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52
53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61
62 63 64 65 66
www.institute.sk Slovakia Council on Public Policy www.council.uni-bayreuth.de/ Germany E.G.West Centre UK www.ncl.ac.uk/egwest/ United Kingdom Economic Policy Research Institute www.epri-macedonia.org/ Macedonia Ekome (Society for Social and Economic Studies) www.ekome.gr/English/default.asp Greece Eudoxa www.eudoxa.se/ Sweden Euro 92 www.euro92.com/new/europe.php3 France European Ideas Network www.epp-ed.org/europeanideasnetwork/ Belgium European Independent Institute www.european-independent.org The Netherlands EVA www.eva.fi/eng/index.php Finland F. A. Hayek Institute www.hayek-institut.at Austria FAES www.fundacionfaes.org Spain Fondation pour l’innovation politique www.fondapol.org France Foundation for Market Economy www.fme.hu/ Hungary Frédéric Bastiat Stichting www.bastiatstichting.nl/ The Netherlands FREE (Forum Rozwoju Edukacji Ekonomicznej) www.free.org.pl/ Poland Free Market Centre www.fmc.org.yu/ Serbia Freedom Institute www.freedominst.org Ireland Friedrich Naumann Stiftung www.fnst.de/webcom/show_article.php/_c449/i.html Germany Friedrich von Hayek Gelsellschaft www.hayek.de/ Germany Fundacio Catalunya Oberta www.catalunyaoberta.net Spain Gdansk Institute for Market Economics www.ibngr.edu.pl/english/index2.htm Poland Hayek Foundation www.hayek.ru/ Russia Health Consumer Powerhouse www.healthpowerhouse.com Belgium Health Policy Institute www.hpi.sk Slovakia Health Reform.cz www.healthreform.cz Czech Republic Hellenic Leadership Institute www.hli.gr/ Greece iFRAP (French Institute for Research into Public Administration) www.ifrap.org/ France INEKO www.ineko.sk/english/ Slovakia Institución Futuro www.institucionfuturo.org Spain Institut Constant de Rebecque www.institutconstant.ch Switzerland Institut Economique Molinari www.institutmolinari.org/ Belgium Institut Hayek www.fahayek.org/ Belgium
67 Institut Montaigne 68 69 70 71 72 73 74
75 76 77 78 79 80 81 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99
www.institutmontaigne.org/ France Institut Turgot www.turgot.org France Institute for Economic Studies Europe www.ies-europe.org France Institute for Free Enterprise www.unternehmerische-freiheit.de/ Germany Institute for Free Society www.isloboda.sk Slovakia Institute for Market Economics www.ime-bg.org/ Bulgaria Institute for Strategic Studies and Prognosis www.isspm.org/ Montenegro Institute for Transistional Democracy and International Security www.itdis.org Hungary Institute of Economic Affairs www.iea.org.uk United Kingdom Institute of Economic and Social Studies www.iness.sk Slovakia Instituto Juan de Mariana www.juandemariana.org Spain Instytut Globalizacji www.globalizacja.org Poland Instytut Liberalno-Konserwatywny www.ilk.lublin.pl/ Poland International Policy Network www.policynetwork.net/ United Kingdom Istituto Acton www.acton.org/ital Italy Istituto Bruno Leoni www.brunoleoni.it Italy Jerusalem Instiute for Market Studies www.jims-israel.org Israel Konrad Adenauer Foundation www.kas.de/ Germany Liberales Institut eng.libinst.ch Switzerland Liberalni Institute www.libinst.cz/english/ Czech Republic Libertarian Alliance www.libertarian.co.uk/ United Kingdom Libertas www.libertas.dk/ Denmark Liberty Ideas www.liberalismus.at Austria Liberty Net www.libertynet.gr/ Greece Lithuanian Free Market Institute www.freema.org/ Lithuania Ludwig von Mises Institute Europe www.vonmisesinstitute-europe.org Belgium Ludwig von Mises Institute Romania www.misesromania.org Romania M.E.S.A. 10 www.mesa10.sk Slovakia Magna Carta Foundation www.magna-carta.it Italy New Economic School www.economics.ge/ Georgia New Social Market Economy Foundation www.insm.de/index.jsp Germany Nova Civitas www.novacivitas.org/ Belgium Nova Res Publica www.novarespublica.org/ Italy
100 Open Europe 101 102 103 104 105 106 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 115 116 117 118 119 120 121
www.openeurope.org.uk United Kingdom Open Republic Institute www.openrepublic.org/ Ireland Poder Limitado www.poderlimitado.org/ Spain Policy Exchange www.policyexchange.org.uk/ United Kingdom Politeia www.politeia.co.uk/ United Kingdom Project Empowerment www.project-empowerment.org United Kingdom Ratio Institute www.ratioinstitutet.nu/ Sweden Reform www.reform.co.uk United Kingdom Riinvest Institute for Development Research www.riinvestinstitute.org Kosovo Romania Think Tank www.thinktankromania.ro/ Romania Sauvegarde Retraites www.sauvegarde-retraites.org/ France Social Affairs Unit www.socialaffairsunit.org.uk/ United Kingdom Stiftung Marktwirtschaft www.stiftung-marktwirtschaft.de/ Germany Taxpayers’ Alliance www.taxpayersalliance.com United Kingdom The Copenhagen Institute www.coin.dk Denmark The F.A. Hayek Foundation www.hayek.sk/ Slovakia The Globalisation Institute www.globalisationinstitute.org United Kingdom Thomas More Institute www.institut-thomas-more.org Belgium Timbro www.timbro.se/ Sweden Venezie Institute www.venezie.org Italy Veritas www.veritas-iceland.com Iceland Walter Eucken Institut www.eucken.de/en/index.htm Germany
11
EYE ON EUROPE
EVENTS AND PUBLICATIONS Europe Needs Saving: Defusing the Pensions Timebomb
Russian Energy – Crisis or Opportunity for Europe?
Europe’s population is ageing rapidly, and time is running out to enact reform.This series of essays offers guidance as to the kind of reform that is needed, and offers a clear lesson: undeniably the most effective way of defusing the pensions time bomb is to harness the power of market forces.
Conservative Party Conference Fringe Event: VENUE: Tralee Hotel, Bournemouth 3rd October 2006, 1pm
WESTMINSTER FRINGE DEBATES
VENUE: One Great George Street, London SW1 PREVIOUS DEBATES: 8th June 2006 Blair’s legacy is one of hopes fulfilled, not opportunities squandered
Coincidence or Crisis? The business of creating, distributing and selling counterfeit pharmaceutical products is an unregulated, criminal and growing part of the global economy. With lives at stake, pharmaceutical counterfeiting is an urgent problem. Coincidence or Crisis brings together some of the world’s leading experts to discuss the growth of counterfeit pharmaceuticals. It provides a comprehensive analysis of the core issues, while delimiting key strategies to tackle the problem.
With rising domestic consumption and the rapid drawing down of North Sea reserves, Britain is set to become a net importer of energy by 2020. During the same period, Russian provision of EU energy will rise to over 50% of total consumption.This energy relationship will therefore alter and dominate all bilateral (and EU-Russia) relations.
UPCOMING DEBATES: On September 19th, the Stockholm Network and The Economist will be hosting a debate provisionally entitled ‘More nuclear power stations are not the answer to Britain’s energy crisis’. Further details will shortly be confirmed and will be available at www.stockholm-network.org/ conferences/events/upcoming.php
Russian energy policy, and its interaction with Russian foreign policy, will dominate European politics for the next fifty years. How should Britain react to this new challenge?
If you would like to order a Stockholm Network publication, please send a cheque made payable to ‘Stockholm Network’ to the address below. Please also include £2 postage in Europe, £3 postage Rest of the World.
Return Address: Stockholm Network 35 Britannia Row, London N1 8QH United Kingdom www.stockholm-network.org info@stockholm-network.org
THE STOCKHOLM NETWORK 35 Britannia Row, London N1 8QH United Kingdom Tel: (44) 207-354-8888 Fax: (44) 207-359-8888 E-mail: info@stockholm-network.org Website: www.stockholm-network.org
A Sick Business £10 Apology for Capitalism £10 Beyond the Borders £10 Coincidence or Crisis? £10 Defusing the Pensions Timebomb £10 Does the West Know Best? £8
European Dawn £10 Flat Tax £10 Intellectual Property Frontiers £5 Impatient for Change £12 Poles Apart £10